Method of making rail joint bars



Oct. 4, 1938. G. LANGFORD 20,874

METHOD OF MAKING RAIL JOINT BARS Original Filed April 10, 1929 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 4, 1938. G. LANGFORD METHOD OF MAKING RAIL JOINTBARS Original Filed April 10, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 4, 1938.

G. LANGFORD.

METHOD OF MAKING RAIL JOINT BARS Original Filed April 10, 1929 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Inf/672%? eo gc 1155/ w .Rei ssued Oct. 4, 1938 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF MAKING RAIL JOINT BARS George Langford,Joliet, Ill., assignor to McKenna Process Company of Illinois, Joliet,Ill., a corporation of Illinois 8 Claims.

My invention relates to bars used in rail joints, and more particularlyto a method of reforming such bars.

It is known that in use in the track the head and flange bearingsurfaces of the bars wear away at the center one-third or one-fourth ofthe length of the bars at a much greater rate than at the end portionsof the bar. A bar which has been worn in this manner to such an extentas to render it difiicult or impossible to obtain a tight fit betweenthe fishing surfaces of the rails and the center portions of the bars isunfit for service and must be replaced. Such a bar can, however, bereformed as to restore its original fishing height at the center portionof the bar or, if desired, in reforming this bar, the center portionthereof can have the fishing height increased beyond its originalfishing height, thus providing a crowned bar.

I use dies having forming surfaces which converge inwardly of the diesin such manner as to obtain the desired spreading of the metal,thepressure of the dies being applied at the central portion of the bar,as the dies are closed, so as to effect the desired spreading action,the end portions of the bar being relieved of pressure and,'

therefore, not opposing closing of the dies. This renders it possible toreadily spread the center portion of the bar to the desired extent andwith the application of but relatively small pressure.

This has the further advantage that the headand flange fishing surfacesof the bar, particularly at the center portion thereof, are accuratelyformed and the fishing height of the reformed bar is also accurate, thusassuring accuracy between the fishing of the bar and the fishing of therail end. This is particularly important at the center portion of thebar, though also of importance at the end portions thereof. The reformedbar may be made thinner in part soas not to decrease the central fishingwidths, par ticularly the head fishing which because of the restrictionput upon its width by the narrow rail head gives insufficient headbearing fishing surface and makes any decrease of head fishing widthundesirable, particularly at the central portion of the bar where headfishing wear is greatest and where there should be increase rather thandecrease in width of fishing contact. This thinning of the centralportion of the bar is met in a crowned bar by increase of verticalheight so that the reformed bar is capable of withstanding verticalstresses equal to, or even greater than, the stresses which the originalbar could withstand. If the reformed bar is restored to its originalfishing height, that is, is not crowned, the displacement of metal isslight and there will be no appreciable decrease in strength of thecenter portion of the bar.

There are short and long angle bars, in use, the former varying from 24to 28 inches in length, and the latter varying from 36 to 42 inches inlength. The greatest stress on the bar is taken up by the centerone-third of the short bar and the center one-fourth of the long bar,respectively, the balance being taken up by the end portions of the bar.My invention applies equally to all lengths of bars, though for thepurpose of illustration I have shown in the accompanying drawings ashort bar.

In practicing my method I employ dies of special construction, thepasses and forming walls of which are so related and disposed as tospread the central portion of the bar so as to increase the fishingheight of such central portion, this spreading action being accomplishedby displacing the metal in such manner as to decrease the thickness ofthe bar at the central portion, this decrease in thickness being appliedto one or more selected elements thereof. Constructing the dies in thismanner renders it possible to readily reform bars so as to restore orincrease the fishing height of the central portion thereof by theapplication of relatively small or medium pressures. Dies constructed inthis manner accomplish a number of purposes. The greatest pressure maybe concentrated at the central worn portion of the bar by overcoming theresistance of the less worn portions intermediate between the centralportion and ends. The pressure at center may also be applied to effect agreater lateral movement of metal at center, and

this pressure may be made to apply first at cen-,

ter, this'bein'g followed by waves of pressure from the center to eachend. This method of reforming bars by graduated pressure, that is, byapplying the greatest pressure at the center portion of the bar andhaving this pressure decrease toward the ends of the bar, is animportant feature of my invention and may be employed for producingeither tapered bars such as! above described, or untapered bars, as willbe hereinafter more fully explained.

My invention has as its main object the resto ration of the fishingheight and of the fishing surfaces, or the raising of the fishing heightat the central portion of a Worn bar; also to restore the fishingsurfaces of the bar as a whole by holding the end portions of the bar infishing alignment with the central portion; and, a further object is toeffect a graduation of pressure on the worn bar, this pressureconcentrating at the center and spreading decreasingly toward or to theends thereof.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from thedetailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of a worn bar;

Figure 2 is a side view of the bar of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of a bar having its center portion restored toits original fishing height by reforming a bar such as that shown inFigure 2;

Figure 4 is a side view of a bar having its center portion of increasedfishing height so as to be crowned at both the top and the bottom, sucha bar being produced by reforming the bar of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the bar of Figure 4;

Figure dis a side view of a bar reformedin accordance with my inventionand crowned at both top and bottom;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the bar of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a perspective outer side view of an uncrowned bar producedin accordance with my nvention;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 of a crowned bar; 1

Figure 10 is an end view of the bar of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is an end view of a rail joint illustrating the bar of Figure8 as applied, one-half of the joint being sectioned at the centralvertical plane thereof;

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 showing the bar of Figure 9 asapplied;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the dies, the upper die being tiltedupwardly away from the lower die;

Figure 14 is an end View of the dies in closed position;

Figure 15 is a section taken substantially on line l5-I5 of Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a plan view of the lower die;

Figure 17 is an end view of a modified form of bar the head portionthereof being sectioned at the center portion of the bar;

Figure 18 is an end view of another modified form of bar showing theflange portion sectioned at the center of the bar;

Figure 19 is a view of a third modified form of bar, this view being asection on a vertical plane at the center of the bar;

Figure 20 is a central sectional view through a fourth modified form ofbar.

In Figures 1 to 7 of the drawings I have illustrated, more or lessdiagrammatically, the problem to be solved. In Figure 1, I haveillustrated a flat bar I, the center portion 2 of which has been worndown at both the top and bottom, at 2 to such an extent that the fishingheight of this center portion is much less than that of the end portions3.

Figure 2 represents such a bar in side view, this being assumed to be abar which has been in use for a long time. The amount of wear of thecenter portion of the bar has been exaggerated so as to be readilyperceivable and to more clearly illustrate conditions which exist inpractice. The problem is to restore the fishing height of the centerportion 2 of the bar to the height of the end portions 3, as in Figure3, or to provide from the bar of Figures 1 and 2 a bar having a centerportion the fishing height of which is greater than that of the endportions, as in Figure 4.

In Figure 3, the restored center portion l is equal in fishing height tothe end portions, 3, whereas, in Figure 4, the fishing height of thecenter portion 4 is greater than that of the end portions 3, thusproviding a bar crowned at both the top and bottom. To produce the bar,of Figure 4 from the bar of Figures 1 and 2, the center portion of thebar is pressed inwardly from the opposite sides thereof, as in Figure 5.By pressing the center portion of the bar to a less extent than inFigure5, the bar of Figure 3 is produced. It is thus possible to readilyrestore or increase the fishing height of the center portion of a wornbar, as desired. It will be noted that in Figure 5 the thickness of theend portions 3 of the bar remains unchanged. Also, in this figure, thecenter portion 4 is illustrated as being pressed inwardly from bothsides of the bar, so as to be expanded or spread toward the top andbottom edges of the bar. Obviously, the same result can be accomplishedby pressing the center portion 'of the bar inwardly from one face y.

In Figure 6 I have shown in side view a bar formed in accordance with myinvention. This bar is of greater fishing height at its center portion 5than at its end portions 5 and tapers to the ends and is, therefore, acrowned bar. The center portion is shown as of uniform height throughoutits length, the upper and lower edges thereof being defined by straightlines and the upper and lower edges of the end portions 5 being definedby straight lines which converge toward the ends of the bar and extendfrom the ends of the center portion 5. As shown in Figure '7, centerportion 5 of the bar is approximately of the same thickness as centerportion 4 of the bar of Figure 5, and the end portions 6 taper inwardlyin thickness from the ends of the bar tothe center portion. Thisproduces a tapered bar which can be readily formed in dies, the opposedsurfaces of which converge inwardly from each end of the dies, so thatthe pressure is applied at the center portion of the bar, and the endsof the bar are relieved of pressure to a large extent. I thus obtain awedging effect of the dies in spreading the metal, so that by applyingcomparatively small or medium pressure the metal at the center portionof the bar is caused to flow outwardly toward the upper and lower edgesthereof, thus reforming the center portion and either restoring fishingsurfaces to their original fishing height, or increasing the fishingheight cf this portion of the bar over its original height.

To avoid misunderstanding, it will be understood that Figs. 1 to '7inclusive are diagrammatic. They show a bar as a fiat strap with onlyfour surfaces, whereas actual bars in common use have many surfaces. Thefigures further show the bar in cross-section as one indivisible unit,whereas actual bars in use are practically all of them composed of threeparts cross-sectionally; a head or top part, a foot or bottom part, anda web or middle part. As will be shown later, the explanation of Figures1 to 7 inclusive which deals with the bar as a Whole and with onlyhorizontal pressure, is intended to be merely broadly descriptive ofthat on which my invention is based, namely; concentration of pressureat center, said pressure, as will be explained later, being appliedvertically as well as horizontally upon selected surfaces of severalparts of the bar and in a manner suitable to each particular case.

In Figure 8, I have illustrated a bar produced by reforming a worm barand restoring the fishing height of the center portion thereof to thesame height as the fishing of the end portions of the bar. In this. bar,the center portion l of the flange 1 is of less thickness than the endportions 1 which taper inwardly in thickness from the ends of the bar tothe center portion thereof. It will also be noted that the centerportion 8 of the head 8 is of less thickness than the end portions 8which taper in thickness from the ends of the bar to the center portionthereof. The center portion 9 of the web 9 is of less thickness than theend portions 9 thereof which taper in thickness from the ends of thebar. This will be understood more clearly by reference to Figure 11,which shows two bars similar to that of Figure 8 applied to a rail, oneof the bars being shown in end view and the other bar being shown insection, the section being taken at the center of the bar.

As will be noted from this figure of the drawings, center portion 9 ofthe web of the bar at the right hand side of rail I0 is appreciablythinner than the end portions 9* of the web of the bar at the left ofthe rail. It will also be no ed that the center portion 8 of the head ofthe right hand bar is of appreciably less width and vertical thicknessthan the end portions 8 of the head of the bar at the left of the rail.

The center portion 1 of flange 1 of the right hand bar is of appreciablyless vertical thickness than the end portion I of the flange of the lefthand bar. It will thus be seen that the bar of Figure 8 has beenproduced by tapering the entire section of the bar-from each end thereofto the center portion of the bar.

The bar illustrated in Figures 9 and 11 may be considered as beingproduced from a worn bar reformed to restore the original fishing heightof the center portion thereof, such bar being initially uncrowned.

This reformed bar is adapted for use with new or unworn rails, it beingnoted in Figure 11 that the fishing surface of the right hand side ofthe rail head is at the same height as the fishing surface at the lefthand side of the rail head.

All of the figures of reformed bars so far described may also beconsidered as illustrative of sections taken across the die cavity whenthe dies are closed. The amount of thinning of parts or all of groovesat the central portion are accurately measurable in the dies but aredifiicult to measure in the finished bars for the following reasons.

The ordinary rail joint has take-up space between bar head and rail webof about the fishings being so angled that wear of s" in fishing heightuses all take-up space and the joints life is ended. This 92" of wornfishing height may be taken as half in the rail ends and half in thebar, so that when the bar has lost in fishing height, it is worn out.The head fishing of the bar being generally of less area than the flangefishing, wears most, so that 5" may be taken as the bars head fishingwear, and A as the bars flange fishing wear. In reforming, the head andvslight thinning of the die cavity at center, and yet it is these smallamounts that mean so much in the proper restoration of the worn fishingsurfaces. To thin various members of a die cavity at the central portionso that this thinning is not restricted to any one surface, means thatthe metal is moved evenly and not distorted in any one place, and thatthe bar, although thinned at the central portion by a die cavity thinnedat the central portion, is not thinned enough to be objected to, 'theinspection for this in the reformed bar being far less exacting than theclose machine work on the dies.

In Figures 9, 10 and 12, I have illustrated a bar formed by the samemethod as the bar of Figure 8. It will be noted, however, that the barof Figure 9 is of greater vertical height at its central portion than atits end portions. Center portion II of web H is of greater verticalheight than end portions li of the web, these end portions of the webtapering in vertical height from the center portion ll to the ends ofthe bar.

It will also be noted, by reference to Figure 10 that the center portionof l2 of head I2 is of less vertical-height and less horizontalthickness than the end portions l2 which taper in thickness from theends of the bar to the center portion Il The center portion l2 of thehead is higher than the ends of the bar, and the center portion l3 offlange I3 is of less vertical thickness than the end portion I3 of theflange, these end portions tapering in thickness from the ends of thebar to the center portion thereof, and the center portion l3 extendsbelow the end portions 13'. Center portion ll of web l I is of lessthick-' ness horizontally thanv the end portions H as shown in Figure10, the end portions of the web tapering in thickness from the ends ofthe bar to the center portion H The bar of Figures 9, l0 and 12 is, ingeneral, formed by the same method as the bar of Figures 8 and 11,except that in the bar of Figure 9 the web tapers vertically as well ashorizontally and the center portion of the bar is of greater height thanthe end portions, thus producing a bar which is crowned both at the headand the flange.

In Figure 12, I have illustrated a rail l4 having two bars constructedas in Figures 9 and 10 applied thereto, one of the bars being shown inend View and the other bar being shown in central section.

As will be noted, the central portion I l of the web of the bar at theright hand side of the rail is appreciably higher and thinner than theend portions ll of the web of the bar at the left hand side of the rail.It will also be noted that the head fishingsurface and the flangefishing surface of the right hand bar are respectively higher and lowerthan the corresponding sur-' faces of the left hand bar. This bar isillustrated as applied to a rail M which has been in use some time, thecenter portion of each of the head and fiange fishing surfaces l5 andI6, respectively, of the rail having been worn away to a much greaterextent than the end portions I1 and I8 of such surfaces, which may beconsidered as not worn.

This bar is thus well adapted for use with worn rail ends. Under someconditions, a bar constructed in this manner, though not so heavilycrowned, may be used with new or slightly worn rail ends, the verticalbeveling of the end portions N of the web H of the bar permitting theend portions of the bar to be drawn inwardly ,portion or block 23.

sufliciently to position the ends of the bar head beneath the rail head.

In forming the bars of Figures 8 and 9, the center portions of the websof such bars are made thinner than the end portions thereof, the endportions tapering inwardly in thickness to the center portion aspreviously described and illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 7. Inthis figure, I have illustrated the bar as being pressed inwardly fromone side thereof only, whereas I have illustrated the bars of Figures 8and 9 as being pressed inwardly or tapered from both sides thereof.Obviously, either method'can be employed in forming the bars, that is,the bars can be tapered by being pressed inwardly from either side, orfrom both sides thereof, as desired, or as conditions may require.

Figures 8 to 12 inclusive represent a more detailed amplification of thediagrammatic Figures 1 to '7 inclusive, Figures 8 to 12 inclusive showthe actual bars as commonly used, divisible into head, web and footparts and showing the plurality of surfaces upon which pressure may becentrally concentrated, both vertically and horizontally. Figs. 8 to 12inclusive further represent an aggregate or nearly so of bar surfacesand centrally concentrated pressures applied both vertically andhorizontally. As will be explained later, my invention is directlyconcerned with individual treatments of centrally concentrated pressureapplied to a plurality of surfaces selected from said aggregate.

In illustrating the bars differences in height and thickness have beengreatly exaggerated to more clearly illustrate my invention. In actualpractice, however, the differences may be quite small. In rail jointangle bars, small changes in measurement mean a great deal.

In Figures 13 to 16, I have illustrated a pair of dies for forming barsin accordance with my invention. The lower female die is provided withpasses 2| and 22 for reforming the head and the flange, respectively, ofa bar. These passes are disposed at opposite sides of a center raisedThe center portion 24 of this block is provided with a horizontal upperface and the side edges 25 of this portion are parallel with the sideedges of the die. The center portion 26 of pass 2| is parallel withportion 24 of block 23, and the center portion 21 of pass 22 is alsoparallel with portion 24 of the block. Each end portion 28 of block 23tapers in width outwardly to the end of the dieand the upper face ofsuch end portion is inclined or bevelled downwardly to the end of thedie.

The end portions 29 and 30 of the passes 2| and 22, respectively, aredisposed parallel to end portions 28 of block 23, that is, the endportions of the passes are also inclined downwardly to the ends of thedie and the end portions 29 and 30 of the passes at each end of the dieconverge toward the ends of the die. The die 20 is further provided withan inclined surface 3| extending upwardly and outwardly from the outeredge of pass 2|. This die 20 coactswith an upper male die 32 having ablock or extension 33, which enters the recess of die 20. The centerportion 34 of extension 33 has its under face horizontal and the underface of each end portion of this extension is tapered or inclinedupwardly to the end of the die from the center portion 34. Die 32 isprovided with a pass 2 I similar to pass 2| of die 20, and with aninclined shoulder 3| which coacts with surface 3| of die 20 to form adie lock. The end portions 35 of extension 33 taper in width outwardlyfrom the center portion 34 of such extension, andthe end portions ofpass 2| are disposed parallel with the end portions 35 of the extension,the center portion of this pass being parallel with center portion 34.Block or extension 33 is provided, at the side thereof remote from pass2 l with a center forming surface 35 and end forming surfaces 31, thesurface 36 being parallel to the adjacent side of die 32 and thesurfaces 31 being inclined or tapered inwardly of the dietransverselythereof from the surface 36 to each end of the die.

During the first part of. the closing movement of the dies, die 32 isshifted laterally away from the flange of the bar, due to contact ofsurface 36 with the bar flange. ,In the final closing movement of thedies, the die lock acts to shift die 32 in the direction of the barflange. This is important as assuring proper and accurate forming of theflange fishing surface, which is the most difficult surface of the barto accurately form. The tapered passes of the dies, andthe die lock,thus cooperate to accurately form the bar with facility.

The surfaces 36 and 31, when the dies are in operative relation, aredisposedin parallelism to surfaces 36 and 31*, respectively, of pass 22of the lower female die 20. -The under face of block 33 of the upper dieis convexed downwardly to a greater extent than the upper face of block23 of the lower die is convexed upwardly as clearly illustrated inFigure 15.

It is to be noted that the passes in the dies taper in depth from eachend of the die to the center portion of the pass. These passes alsotaper in Width from the ends of the die to the center portion of thepass, which is narrower h-ori'zontally than the end portions of suchpass. A bar formed in such a die will be tapered in thickness throughoutits entire section from each end to the center portion thereof. Thisconstruction of die is thus adapted to produce a bar similar to thatillustrated in Figures 9, 10 and 12. In the die structure illustrated,by way of example only, I have shown the passes and forming surfaces asdefined by straight lines. I contemplate, however, the use of dies inwhich the passes and forming surfaces may be formed by arcuate or curvedlines, or even stepped lines, if desired. The die structure illustratedand described is by way of example only and, in actual practice, may bevaried within wide limits, so as to taper the bar throughout its entiresection from the ends to the center portion, or the die may be formed totaper one or more elements of the bar without tapering the entiresection thereof. Also, the dies may be so formed as to produce anuntapered or straight bar,- while obtaining the advantages above pointedout which result from employing graduated pressure in reforming the bar.

While my method is particularly adapted for reforming worn bars so as torender them again useful, it can also be used for forming new bars and Ido not, therefore, limit my invention tothe reforming of worn bars.

In Figs. 1'7 to 20 of the drawings I have illustrated various ways ofapplying pressure at the central portion of the different elements of arail joint bar so as to either restore or increase the height of thefishing at such portion, the inner lines representing graphicallypressure at center, and the outer lines, little or no pressure at theends. In Fig. 17 I have shown a bar 39 of I-beam type in which thecenter portion of the toward the same purpose.

head thereof has. had central pressure applied as at 4| to the underface of the head. This bar may also be pressed centrally at 42 on theouter upper face of the head and, under such conditions, the head may befurther centrally pressed as at 43 on the under face of the outerreinforcement for the head, and if the bar is not badly Worn and it isdesired to restore the height of the fishing, the pressure at 4| isfrequently sufficient. In connection with this explanation it will beunderstood that the words pressure and pressing used alone withoutqualification will be taken to mean great pressure applied to thecentral por ion of the bar on the one or more surfaces indicated.

In Figure 18, I have illustrated a bar 44, the fishing height of thecenter portion of which has been restored by pressing the flange 45 at45 and 41. This pressure on the flange exerted on the upper face thereofcauses the metal to flow toward the flange fishing surface of the bar,so as to restore the fishing height at the center portion thereof.

In practice, both portions of the flange 45 may be pressed asillustrated, or either the inner portion or the outer portion of theflange may be pressed. Pressure on the flange is particularly importantwhen applied to the upper and outer portion, as the pressure required inreforming is largely consumed in properly reforming the flange fishing.Asthe main problem is to properly reform the central portion where themost wear has occurred, pressure along the flange of the bar must be soapplied as to effect more spread of metal there than at the ends, orbetween the central portion and ends. The flange is therefore pressedhard at the cen ral portion, and less from there toward each end, theextreme ends requiring little or no pressure because of their generallyunworn condition.

The reduction of intermediate and end pressure resistance is thereforeequally important as concentration of pressure at center, although bothare dependent upon each other and direced The flange portion of a barbeing thin and broad must have the pressure between center and endreduced so as to reduce the large area of resistance opposing movementof me! al at the central portion. The same is true of the broad thinweb, although the web does not play the important part in reforming, asdoes the flange.

This is because it is easier to move metal to a fishing surface from thecontiguous fishing hearing part of the bar than from a more remotenon-fishing part, such as the web. In Figure 19 I have illustrated a barin which the fishing height at the center portion has been restored orincreased by pressing the web 48.

In Figure 20, I have illustrated a bar in which the head 5| has beenpressed transversely at 52 and 53, the flange 54 having also beenpressed at 55, 56 and 51.

The horizontal pressure on head or flange as in Figure 20 is employedwith caution, for it is not good practice to narrow the widths offishing at center, this being particularly true of the portion which Iwould prefer to make Wider if possible.

The preferred method, as shown in Figure 20, is to confine thinning ofthe head to ihat part which is beneath the head fishing, so thatthinning of the head at center is accomplished without narrowing of thehead fishing.

Figs. 17 to 20 inclusive illustrate how selections may be made from theaggregate of Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive, to apply centrally concentratedpressure upon various surfaces of the bar. This selection or selectionsmay be variously combined to suit each individual case.

It, will be clear from the above that my invention comprehends, in itsbroader aspects, a m ethod'by which a bar has its fishing surfacesrestored and the fishing height at i s center portion either restored orincreased, as desired, by graduated pressure, the pressure beinggreatest at the central portion of the bar and decreasing gradually tothe ends, there being little or no pressure at the extreme ends, thispressure applying to several elements of the bar or, if desired, to allof such elements or to any desired combination thereof, in prescribedamounts of depth and length.

Where it is desired to restore the fishing surfaces and fishing heightof a bar which is not badly wow, this may be accomplished by pressingone or more of the elements of the bar, as suggested in Figures 17 to 20inclusive, the tapering off of pressure to the ends in these figuresbeing combined in numerous ways as to amount and exent to produce thedesired result. I may produce crowned bars which may be crowned both atthe head and the flange, or may be crowned at the head only or at theflangeonly, as conditions may require. It will be obvious that my methodprovides great control in restoring the fishing surfaces and restoringor increasing the fishing height of the center portion of a barbydecreasingly graduating the reforming pressure on one or more elementsof the bar from the central portion to the end portions thereof.

To reduce a fishing surface at the end portions of a bar, there must berelief of pressure at the end portions on one or more surfaces of thebar, otherwise all of the bar surfaces wouldconform to the die surfaces,and the end fishing surfaces would be similar to the central fishingsurfaces, because I have made no provision for narrowing the die fishingsurfaces by direct means at the end portions. My invention takesadvantage of the relative unimportance of end portion fishing contactwith the rail ends compared with the central portion fishing contact, topermit reduction of end portion fishing contact, and tocontrol such re,duction by complete relief of pressure on selected surfaces of the bar.For example, taking the bar of Figure 18, if pressure on surfaces 46 and41 be completely relieved at the end portions of the bar, the flangefishing surface below surfaces 46 and 41 will not be forced to theflange fishing surface of the dies end portions, and the flange fishingsurface of the bar will be reduced at the end por-. tions. If surface 46of Figure 18 be completely relieved from end pressure and surface 41 beonly partially relieved as compared with pressure at center, thatportion of the flange fishing surface under 45 will not conform to thedie, while the portion under 41 does conform to the die, so that flangefishing contact is reduced but not entirely removed. The same proceduremay be applied to the head fishing surface on the bar of Figure 1'7 bycomplete relief of end pressure on surfaces 4|, 42 or 43 or all three,the pressure at center being concentrated to spread the metal where mostneeded and relieved at the ends, so as to reduce fishing surfaces whereso desired.

The complete relief from end pressure on selected surfaces effects morecomplete concentrated pressure at center than only partial relief fromend pressure but may be applied only in such cases where any reductionof end portion fishing contact is permissible. The length of a surfaceso relieved being important to secure such effects as may be desired,this method of complete end pressure relief may be applied tointermediate portions of the bar as well as at the end portions, toreduce one or both fishing surfaces between center and ends, or tomaintain these intermediate fishing surfaces by only partial relief ofpressure. This indirect method of reducing end or intermediate portionsof a fishing, while not as accurate as by the direct method of shapingthe die surface to the shape of bar surface desired, is neverthelessmore or less effective and simple. Unless a bar member has pressureapplied to all of its surfaces it will tend to draw away from one ormore of the die surfaces and not completely fill it. Ordinarily thereduced fishing surfaces will be restored by wear in a joint tosubstantiallygreater contact but may be made so as not to acquiresubstantially greater contact before the bars life is ended in a joint.

While my invention is particularly adapted for reforming angle bars, itmay be used for forming bars of other types, several of which are wellknown in the art and I do not, therefore, confine my invention to anglebars.

What I claim is:

l. The method of reforming worn rail joint bars which consists first inheating the bar to a working temperature and then subjecting it to aforming pressure, the forming pressure being first concentrated at thecentral portion of the bar to effect a greater displacement of metal atsuch central portion, selected surfaces toward the ends of the bar beingentirely relieved of forming pressure.

2. The method of reforming worn rail joint bars which consists first inheating the bar to a working temperature and then subjecting it to aforming pressure, the forming pressure being greatest and concentratedat the central portion of the bar to effect a greater displacement ofmetal at such central portion, selected surfaces to the ends of the barbeing entirely relieved of forming pressure.

3. The method of reforming worn rail joint bars which consists first inheating the bar to a working temperature and then subjecting it to aforming pressure, the forming pressure being first concentrated andgreatest at the central portion of the bar and diminishing towards theends of the bar, selected surfaces toward the ends of the bar beingentirely relieved of forming pressure.

4. The method of reforming the fishing surfaces of a worn rail joint barconsisting in heating the bar and subjecting it to forming pressure,said forming pressure being concentrated at the central portion of thebar and decreasing at the end portions, prescribed lengths of selectedsurfaces of the fishing surface members of the end portions of the barbeing entirely relieved of pressure, thereby effecting a maximummovement of metal at the central portion of the bar and a minimummovement of metal at prescribed lengths of the end portions to thefishing surfaces so as to secure substantially full rail fishing contactsurfaces at the central portion of the bar and reduced rail fishingcontact surfaces at the end portions.

5. The method of restoring the fishing surfaces of a worn rail jointbar, consisting in heating the bar and subjecting it to formingpressure, said forming pressure being concentrated upon differentselected surfaces at a distance from each other at the central portionof the bar and decreasing in graduated amount to the ends so as toeffect a maximum displacement of metal at the central portion of the bardecreasing in graduated amount to the ends Without material change ofthe worn bars cross-section except in the restored positions of thefishing bearing members at the central portion of the bar.

6. The method of reforming one of the head and foot parts of a Worn railjoint bar, said part having a worn fishing surface and other surfaces,consisting in heating the bar to a working temperature and subjectingsaid part to forming pressure, said forming pressure'being first appliedupon the central portion of one of said other surfaces and thenincreasing at said central portion and progressing decreasingly to theends so as to effect a concentration of pressure and greater movement ofmetal at the central portion of said part of the bar to restore thecentral portion of said worn fishing surface, and so as to effect areduction of pressure and lesser movement of metal outwardly from saidcentral portion to each end, thereby restoring said worn fishing surfacethroughout its length.

7. The method of reforming one of the head and foot parts of a worn railjoint bar, said part having a worn fishing surface and other surfaces,consisting in heating the bar to a working temperature and subjectingsaid part to forming pressure, said forming pressure being first appliedupon the central portions of two of said other surfaces and thenincreasing at said central portions, the pressure on one of said twoother surfaces progressing decreasingly from the central portion to theends, and the pressure on the other of said two other surfaces beingremoved from the end portions so as' to effect a concentration ofpressure and greater movement of metal at the central portion of saidpart of the bar to restore the central portion of said worn fishingsurface, and so as to effect a reduction of pressure and lesser movementof metal outwardly from said central portion to each end, therebyrestoring said worn fishing surface throughout its length.

8. The method of reforming an uncrowned bar into a crowned bar of abovenormal height at its central portion, consisting in heating the bar to aworking temperature and subjecting its top part to forming pressure,said forming pressure being first. applied upon the central portion of asurface of said top part other than a fishing surface and thenincreasing at said centralportion of said other surface and progressingdecreasingly to the ends so as to effect a concentration of pressure andgreater movement of metal at the central portion of said top part of thebar to raise the central portion of said fishing surface and so as toeffect a reduction of pressure and lesser movement of metal outwardlyfrom said central portion to each end, thereby raising the fishingsurface of said top part of the bar to above normal height at itscentral portion and reforming said fishing surface throughout itslength.

GEORGE LANGFORD.

